Transitioning

Well, it has been 3 weeks since Wade joined our family! How time flies...it definitely doesn't feel like he is 21 days old.

If you are reading this blog, then I am assuming that you know me, and you know that I am making the transition from mommy/1st grade teacher, to stay-at-home momma. I am very excited to have the chance to stay at home with our children. But at the same time...I am going to REALLY miss teaching. I absolutely love it, and it will be strange to not walk into my classroom 5 mornings a week, teach 6-year-olds how to read and do math, and be a part of the most amazing team of teachers that one could ever ask to be a part of. If you teach at Manor Hill, you know what I mean! It is a wonderful school that has special students, parents, and teachers. I started working at Manor Hill when I was 17, and have worked there in some capacity (Kids Zone, student teaching, subbing, teaching...) for the last 10 years, with the exception of the 2 years that I taught in Smithville. I was so excited to have the opportunity to go back and teach at "The Hill", as we fondly call it. :o)

While I am staying at home, (the length of time that I will be staying at home has yet to be determined...depends on if Wade is our last baby) I am lucky enough to be able to finish my masters degree. I was very stressed about how I was going to continue my education, while working and having 2 children. Luckily, staying at home kind of naturally solves that issue. I am going through Mizzou and am getting my Masters in Literacy Education. If all goes as planned (hahahahaha) then I should have it completed in 3 years, which if Wade is our last baby, I will probably go back to work in 3 years when Owen goes to kindergarten so he can go to school where I am teaching. (By the way, lets all just hope and pray that the school district's budgets aren't so dang tight when I am ready to go back. Mkay? Thanks!)

So, transitions. We have semi-smoothly made the transition into a family of 4. Wade is a much fussier baby than O ever thought about being. He is always grunting, moaning, groaning, crying, etc. We have gotten some wonderful suggestions as to how to help his gassy belly, so hopefully he will be more comfortable soon so he can sleep. He is also on meds for reflux, and those should be showing some signs of relief soon! Poor little guy will start gagging and choking and coughing out of nowhere. It is sad!

Owen is such a routine kid, so this transition has been a but bumpy for him. For instance, naptime. He likes to sleep in our bed, and watch Barney until he falls asleep. Well, that was all well and good until baby bro got here. Now, I try to get O down for a nap, and it NEVER fails that 30ish minutes after Owen falls asleep, Wade starts screaming, and O (who is a very light sleeper) wakes up from his (normally 2-3 hour) nap and is a bear. I am sure that once Wade feels better the screaming will be much less, and they can both get some rest. Poor boys.

I also feel badly for Wade, because he cries so much more than Owen ever did to get his needs met. For instance, I will be getting ready to get O's breakfast, and Wade will start crying because he is hungry. Well, if I sat down to feed Wade, O would have to wait 30 mins for breakfast. So, instead, Wade cries and I scramble to get O's meal prepared...all while trying to reason with a 2-year-old as to why he can't have "chips and cheese" for breakfast, which leads to a meltdown for O because he is tired.

I am confident we will be a well-oiled machine very soon. (I just need to chant the previous statement every morning when it is time to get up!)

One thing that will save me soon is that our fence should be installed soon! That will be great...to be able to take Owen outside and not have to worry about him running away. And we can keep all of this big outside stuff...outside! And not have to worry about someone stealing it! It will be GREAT. Well, enough rambling. Owen is done watching his movie (The Sandlot is his new fave) and is requesting to go and see Izzy. And Chris just called and said he will be home late. Very late. At least the overtime will be nice!